Reading the YouTube comments on the 2025 version of Coke’s “Holidays Are Coming” commercial (which is discreetly labeled as “Created by Real Magic AI”) is to witness the full wrath AI haters and the evil they feel the technology is sowing.

The majority of the comments detail how viewers will be switching to Pepsi, but many lament the removal of humans from the creative production process:

– “Remember when they paid real animators to make commercials with heart. Now it’s soulless AI.”
– “Real magic is when you hire an actual artist with a soul.”
– “Nothing says ‘holiday spirit’ like laying off your whole graphic arts department in the name of ‘moving forward and pushing the envelope’!”

Despite the tempest of negativity, Coca-Cola and their agency WPP insist this spot and its 2024 predecessor (also AI-generated), score well with real consumers and are fully committed to AI production moving forward.
 

“We understand those concerns [job displacement, creative quality and the value of human artistry], but we need to keep moving forward. The genie is out of the bottle, and you’re not going to put it back in.”

 
According to Silverside AI, the company behind the spot, a team of only five AI specialists were required to create the 70,000 raw video clips that were refined and edited into the final film. The production schedule was reduced to 30 days from the full year required for a Coke holiday ad in the pre-AI era.

Pratik Thakar, Coca-Cola’s global VP and head of generative AI, told The Hollywood Reporter: “Last year [2024] we decided to go all in, and it worked out well. Consumer engagement was very high. Yes, some parts of the industry were not pleased we were using a 100% generative AI film, but that’s part and parcel of doing something pioneering.

“We understand the concerns [job displacement, creative quality, the value of human artistry], but we need to keep moving forward. The genie is out of the bottle, and you’re not going to put it back in.”

Watch the making-of video:
 

 
 
Watch the 2024 version:
 

 
 

 
Client: Coca-Cola

Agency: WPP

Production: Silverside AI